Gold Coast United and Perth Glory have both failed to trouble the scorers in an extremely wasteful contest at Skilled Park tonight.
The match ended 0-0 despite both teams having plenty of scoring chances - the result United's third match without a win whilst the Glory have suffered just one loss in their last five but remain 10th on the table.
Gold Coast's point allowed them to move to 35 for the season but they are one behind third-placed Central Coast Mariners in what was a wasted opportunity to gain some ground the top three teams.
A-League Week 21Gold Coast United: 0 Perth Glory: 0
Venue: Skilled Park, Robina Crowd: 2,130 Referee: Peter O'Leary Yellow cards:GCU - Steve Pantelidis 24', Anderson 75' PG - Jamie Coyne 48', Andy Todd 76'
Perth had the luxury of an unchanged line-up for this fixture whilst Gold Coast were without skipper Jason Culina and defender Michael Thwaite because of international duties and suspension respectively.
The home side dominated possession during the opening 15 minutes but were unable to really test Glory keeper Tando Velaphi as his teammates began to work their way into proceedings, led by Robbie Fowler, who was at his creative best up front.
United were getting plenty of delivery into the 18 yard box but strikers Bruce Djite and Joel Porter never seemed to be able to get on the end of any crosses as the Glory defence worked well together to keep scoring chances to a minimum.
Gold Coast were peppering the box but did not look too threatening as Perth were finding their way through the opposing defence at will on the break but Mile Sterjovski just could not keep himself on side in what was a fairly dismal opening 45 minutes.
It was the same sort of action early in the second term with Gold Coast trying to find their way into the box as the Glory waited to hit them on the counter.
Tando Velaphi came up with a top save on the hour-mark when Porter flicked a teasing ball in front of an advancing Zenon Caravella but the midfielder's strong shot was well-managed by the Glory keeper.
Djite should have put his side ahead in the 64th minute when Adama Traore took the ball forward with purpose before playing in the striker but he was forced onto a wide angle and his screwed shot around the corner whistled past the far upright.
Fowler won a free-kick down the other end immediately after Djite's missed chance but his set piece shot was deflected away although it did force United gloveman Glen Moss to worry about his goal as the Glory started to pose a major threat.
Djite was again thwarted when he turned and struck around the corner with his left but Velaphi stuck his arm out to knock the ball to safety in a match that looked more and more like it was going to end up scoreless.
Fowler spurned a great chance from just behind the penalty spot with about 10 minutes remaining before substitute Todd Howarth's unmarked header from a corner just missed the target as the Glory came hard for a winner.
Down the other end, Gold Coast sub Chris Broadfoot was inches away from scoring with an audacious chip but as with every other chance of the night, it did not hit the back of the net and the matched ended in a goalless draw.
Starting Line-Ups
GCU Glen Moss (gk), Adama Traore, Kristian Rees, Dino Djulbic, John Curtis, Robson (Broadfoot 83'), Steve Pantelidis (Anderson 56'), Bas van den Brink, Zenon Caravella, Joel Porter (Minniecon 63'), Bruce Djite
Subs - Scott Higgins (gk), Anderson (56'), Tahj Minniecon (63'), Chris Broadfoot (83')
PG Tando Velaphi (gk), Naum Sekulovski (Todd 45'), Josh Mitchell (Amphlett 89'), Jamie Harnwell, Jamie Coyne, Steven McGarry (Howarth 78'), Jacob Burns, Adriano Pellegrino, Scott Neville, Mile Sterjovski, Robbie Fowler
Subs - Alex Pearson (gk), Andy Todd (45'), Todd Howarth (78'), Tommy Amphlett (89')
